England at Euro 2024: Harry Kane and Phil Foden amongst considerations for Gareth Southgate forward of Denmark check | Soccer Information

Declan Rice instructed me he felt England’s opening win over Serbia was the archetypal “game of two halves”. He was proper.

England’s whole dominance within the first half contrasted with their disjointed and lacklustre second half. And so, understandably, there are a number of positives and negatives that Gareth Southgate can be reflecting on within the coming days.

The important thing difficulty now for the England supervisor is addressing the negatives in time for the second Group C recreation in opposition to Denmark on Thursday.

The positives: Sensible Bellingham and a clear sheet

Firstly, England gained their opening recreation of the Euros, as they’ve accomplished in every of the three different main tournaments wherein Southgate has been in cost.

That shouldn’t be missed, or taken without any consideration. The truth is, Southgate’s file bucks the development of historical past: the win in Gelsenkirchen was solely the second time in 9 makes an attempt England have gained their first match at a Euros.

That offers the group a large increase, it offers momentum and now – with the expanded event – it makes it virtually unimaginable for England to fail to qualify for the knockout levels. Another level from two extra video games would virtually actually do it.

Secondly, Jude Bellingham. Jude Bellingham did what Jude Bellingham does – grabbed the sport by the scruff of the neck and demanded he be the lead actor within the spectacle.

A lot has been stated of his affect, and his significance, already. We will commit no extra column inches right here to England’s finest and most necessary participant – besides to say that Southgate will hope he continues within the vein wherein he began.

Thirdly, England saved a clear sheet. One thing they’d solely accomplished twice of their earlier seven internationals. And within the absence of Harry Maguire, and with Luke Shaw nonetheless injured, there have been actual considerations in regards to the defence.

There nonetheless are, for me, however England’s back-line did handle to finally repel the formidable entrance two of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic. Albeit with some success at instances, and with because of a few wonderful saves from Jordan Pickford.

The way in which that Serbia’s entrance pairing was marshalled by Marc Guehi – taking part in his first recreation at a serious event – was the fourth enormous plus.

The Crystal Palace man began the sport with 41 straight passes accomplished, and ended the sport with a 96 per cent completion fee. Wow. Euros debuts do not get a lot better than that. He seemed composed and assured. Precisely what Southgate ordered.

Fifthly, there have been no new harm considerations. Kieran Trippier instructed me after the sport that his downside within the recreation was cramp-related, however he stated he was happy to really feel it as a result of he wanted the sport time.

That leads me to my sixth constructive – there have been important minutes for a lot of England gamers who’ve come into this event desperately undercooked.

Trippier, Harry Kane, John Stones – all acquired the complete 90 minutes. Bukayo Saka acquired 75. That may solely assist their sharpness for the matches to return.

However that’s the place the positives finish, and that is the place the negatives begin kicking in…

The negatives: Struggling Kane and Foden thriller

Firstly, captain Kane appears miles away from full health, exhausting as he is perhaps attempting in video games, and on the coaching pitch. For the time being, it seems like extra aggressive minutes may not be sufficient to get England’s talisman totally firing.

Forty-nine objectives in 52 video games this season is a rare file. However the remaining three matches of the home season – which he missed due to a again harm – appear simply as important because the earlier 52.

On the Area AufSchalke, Kane touched the ball simply as soon as, earlier than we acquired into harm time on the finish of the primary half. It’s true that, however for a superb save by Predrag Rajkovic within the second half, he would have opened his Euro account with a towering header. However that effort apart, he has not often – if ever – been so nameless.

Likewise Phil Foden – unfavourable quantity two. The Premier League participant of the season, who acts as a conductor to the orchestra of soccer that’s Manchester Metropolis, can not seem to get a tune out of his England team-mates.

Certain, he is not taking part in in his favorite place of quantity 10. He will not, as long as Bellingham stays on this kind. However even when he has performed there for England just lately, as he did within the warm-up video games, he has struggled.

Extra typically, he’s caught out on the left wing, with Southgate encouraging him to float in, discover house, and affect the sport. He wasn’t in a position to try this in any respect in opposition to Serbia. And the way you clear up an issue like Phil Foden is changing into an actual ache within the England supervisor’s neck.

Thirdly, for a squad that I really feel is the envy of each different nation at this event for attacking expertise, there was a worrying lack of creativity in opposition to Serbia. England had solely 5 pictures on objective in the entire 90 minutes. Serbia managed six.

Collectively, their 11 efforts have been the bottom on file in a Euros match because the format started in 1980; the worst of 322 different matches.

However I’d argue that downside was brought on by England’s fourth unfavourable. England could not permit their inventive gamers to thrive, as a result of they did not have management of midfield, within the second half.

How Trent Alexander-Arnold is used within the group is vital. Southgate says he has spent the final 12 months instructing him the artwork of the central defensive midfielder – a place unnatural to him when he performs for Liverpool.

His array of passing was there for all to see early within the recreation, however as England pale, Alexander-Arnold was extra uncovered.

He doesn’t innately perceive positionally the place he must be when England are out of possession. Ought to he actually be studying his commerce in a European Championship?

Solely when Conor Gallagher got here on did England’s midfield look safer, and their urgent recreation started to bear fruit. Earlier than then, it was all too widespread to see Bellingham’s arms raised in frustration, as he pressed the ball, solely to seek out none of his team-mates doing the identical.

Gallagher to begin? The adjustments Southgate would possibly think about

Southgate does not have a lot time to handle these points earlier than Thursday’s assembly with Denmark in Frankfurt. The truth is, simply two full coaching classes – that’s how shortly these Euros video games come alongside.

I’ve hinted at a number of the adjustments he is perhaps occupied with already: Gallagher into the center of midfield instead of Alexander-Arnold. Kane to get replaced earlier within the second half, to offer Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney a primary run at a serious event.

In fact, whereas Kane will virtually actually begin the match, I doubt on present health he can full two a lot of 90 minutes within the house of 4 days.

The opposite fascinating conundrum for Southgate is his vast attacking choices, and whether or not he would possibly dare to drop Foden. It might be a courageous and controversial name. However with the goal-scoring prowess, and goal-creating inventiveness of each Cole Palmer and Ebere Eze chomping on the bit, it could be probably the most pragmatic choice proper now.

The excellent news about Luke Shaw’s progress on the coaching pitch and within the remedy room may additionally drive Southgate’s hand in making one other tweak.

There may be completely no criticism of Kieran Trippier if we advise that the England boss would like to see Shaw line up at left-back.

Trippier has been excellent for his nation for thus lengthy, his versatility admirable. However England are too typically, too slender. That’s the reason Southgate has tended to play the left-footed Foden on the left wing quite than on the proper wing, the place he has persistently performed for Metropolis this season.

England lack pure width – with every of Foden, Saka, Palmer and Eze preferring to chop inside, off the flank. Shaw is a left-footed left-back, which not solely helps when he’s attacked on the surface by an opposing winger, but it surely additionally helps England progress the ball up the left flank.

He might properly, partly, be an answer to Foden’s issues too, if he can supply extra pure help whereas taking part in increased up the pitch.

There isn’t any panic for Southgate or England. They – like the entire different huge weapons on this event – have made a successful begin. However the Three Lions are removed from their roaring finest proper now.

In fact, the present they’re placing on is a bit flat. It has been panned by most of the critics. They want some intelligent steering from their circus grasp if they’re to be thought-about practical trophy contenders.